The Hawks

“Sultry
summer of suspense that leads to the fall of a powerful family”

He warned
me. Said hawks were dangerous birds. Their majestic beauty could blind your
eyes as they picked the flesh from your bones. But even hawks have enemies. And
they eventually came for the Hawthorn family. Held us hostage. Demanded
retribution.

But I
wasn’t a Hawthorn. No, I was just the help. Caught in the turmoil of a tragic
family. I worked hard for Delsey Hawthorn. Tried to earn the respect of the
reigning tyrant. Assistant. Event planner. Gardner. Chauffeur. I added it all
to my resume.

And then I
met Javier Hawthorn. Delsey ordered me to stay away from her grandson. But like
a moth to a burning flame, I gravitated toward him. He was so different than my
world. Irresistible. Charming. He brought a calmness to the chaos.

But that
was before the intruders came into the house. Tied us up. Hurt us. We struggled
to get away. We fought to survive. But who were the men behind the masks? Did
we know them? Because someone who got this close to the family at night must be
even closer during the day.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to upset you.” My hands cupped his cheeks. I peered into his eyes, trying to read him better as I wore my heart on the outside. “I know this is supposed to be casual. But this doesn’t feel casual to me. You are so good to me. So much more than I ever expected. The way you make me feel. I just need to know if you feel the same way. And it’s okay if you don’t. I just need to know the truth.”

Javier rested his forehead against mine. “I feel the same, Sarina.”

“You do?” The elation filled my chest and I leaned up to kiss him, but his words stopped me.

“I feel the same, but you’re not really mine. Not permanently. What right do I have to feel jealous or angry?”

“But you have every right,” I pleaded with him. “If you think we’re together.”

The emotions shifted in his eyes as he struggled with his answer. “Maybe I tried to pretend at first. That you could mean nothing. But I couldn’t. I care about you, Sarina. And in another time or place, I could see myself wanting so much more with you. But the more we feel, the harder it ends.”

“But I don’t want to hurt you. So I have to ask you this. Do you want to stop now before this gets more serious? Before it hurts more?”

“No,” I gushed. I didn’t even hesitate. The idea of him pulling away sent a panic through me. I didn’t care about the heartbreak that would come later when he left me. I needed him in my life right now. “I don’t want to stop seeing you.”

Author Bio

SD Hendrickson received a Bachelor’s of Science in
Journalism and Public Relations from Oklahoma State University. She is the
author of The Mason List, Waiting for Wyatt, and My Lucky Days.